Operator location tracking for remote control rail yard switching
View Patent ↗A system ( 10 ) for generating a rail yard switch list (e.g., 30 ) of switch positioning activities for efficient movement of a railyard operator ( 12 ). The system includes a first operator control unit ( 14 ) (OCU) having a locator ( 16 ) for determining a location of the OCU and an associated operator using the OCU during rail yard switching activities. The system also includes a first processor ( 28 ) for correlating the rail yard switching activities with a respective location of the OCU in the rail yard to establish a knowledge base of respective preferred locations in the rail yard, and a memory (e.g. 26 ) for storing the knowledge base of preferred locations in the railyard. The system further includes a second processor ( 27 ) for receiving a request ( 32 ) for a switch list, accessing the memory, and processing the request based on the knowledge base to generate a switch list.
1. A system for generating a rail yard switch list of switch positioning activities for efficient movement of a railyard operator, the system comprising:
a first operator control unit (OCU) having a locator for determining a location of the OCU and an associated operator using the OCU during rail yard switching activities:
a first processor for correlating the rail yard switching activities with a respective location of the OCU in the rail yard to establish a knowledge base of respective preferred locations in the rail yard;
a memory for storing said knowledge base of preferred locations in the railyard for a library of the switching activities; and
a second processor for receiving a request for a switch list, accessing the memory and processing the request based on the knowledge base to generate a switch list having a sequence of switching activities organized to consider the physical movement required of an operator to implement the switch list.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first OCU further comprises a transmitter for transmitting OCU location data to the first processor.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first OCU further comprises a transmitter for transmitting switch positioning activities to the first processor.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first processor is on the first OCU and the first OCU further comprises a transmitter for transmitting correlated data.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second processor communicates with a transmitter for transmitting the switch list.
6. The system of claim 5 , further comprising a second OCU having a receiver for receiving the switch list.
7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the first OCU constitutes the second OCU.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first processor, the second processor and the memory are on the first OCU.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first processor constitutes the second processor.
10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second processor is separate from and spaced apart from the first OCU.
11. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
an OCU tilt sensor for sensing an inclination of the OCU;
a transmitter, coupled to the tilt sensor and the locator for transmitting a signal indicative of the location of the OCU at times associated with when the inclination of the OCU exceeds a predetermined value.
12. The system of claim 11 , further comprising a timer for measuring the period of time the inclination of the OCU exceeds the predetermined value.
13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the OCU transmits a signal when the inclination of the OCU exceeds the predetermined value for a predetermined period of time.
14. A method for generating a rail yard switch list of switch positioning activities for efficient movement of a railyard operator, the method comprising:
tracking locations of a first operator control unit (OCU) and an associated operator during rail yard switching activities;
correlating each switching activity with a respective location of the operator to establish a knowledge base of respective preferred locations in a rail yard for a library of the switching activities;
storing the knowledge base in memory;
receiving a switch list request;
accessing the knowledge base; and
processing the request based on the knowledge base to generate a switch list having a sequence of switching activities organized to consider physical movement of an operator implementing the switch list.
15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising transmitting the switch list to a second OCU.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the first OCU constitutes the second OCU.
17. The method of claim 14 , further comprising transmitting data indicative of the tracked locations and the railyard switching activities.
18. A computer readable medium having software code for generating a rail yard switch list of switch positioning activities for efficient movement of a railyard operator, the computer readable medium comprising:
a software code module associated with an operator control unit (OCU) for tracking locations of a first OCU and an associated operator during rail yard switching activities:
a software code module associated with a first processor for correlating each switching activity with a respective location of the operator to establish a knowledge base of respective preferred locations in a rail yard for a library of the switching activities;
a software code module associated with memory for storing the knowledge base; and
a software code module associated with a second processor for accessing memory and generating a switch list having a sequence of switching activities organized to consider physical movement of an operator implementing the switch list.
19. The computer readable medium of claim 18 , further comprising a software code module for requesting the switch list.
20. The computer readable medium of claim 19 , further comprising a software code module for transmitting the switch list.